TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE … # 109

In the ambulance, they had checked out Ghost, and gave him a shot of antibiotic, and something for pain and fever, and he had gone to sleep. Steve was coming awake again, but had been medicated, too, so he was in no pain now, just groggy. They made fairly good time, traveling the thirty miles, and on arrival at the hospital, Steve was checked into a room. He was being hydrated, warmed, and stabilized, before getting his leg set. They’d also done an MRI on his head, and put in a couple of stitches, to close the wound. He was a little more alert now, and was able to speak to Ghost, who was staying with him in the room.

“They said you have a concussion, Steve, and they’re gonna fix your leg,” Ghost told him.

“My leg?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, didn’t they tell ya…it’s broke,” Ghost said.

“They didn’t say that to me. No wonder it hurts.”

“You got some pain stuff, so it’ll be ok, though.”

Steve tried adjusting his position, but with the IV hooked up to his arm, it wasn’t easy. Ghost helped him, by raising the head of the bed a bit, and smoothing the sheets.

“I don’t really remember much,” Steve said.

“You don’t? Do you remember going outside to fix the tank? You fell on the porch, and hit your head. I dragged you back inside,” Ghost explained.

“Oh, yeah…the tank. It was cold in the house…” Steve said, his eyes closing, as he faded off into sleep, again.

Ghost smoothed back Steve’s hair. He didn’t feel as hot, now. A nurse came to check on them, and brought a blanket and pillow, for Ghost. “You can stay in here…take a nap on the couch if you want to,” she said. “The doctor is going to set his leg, probably in another hour, then he’ll be back in here.

Ghost did stretch out on the small couch, falling asleep. When he woke up, they were bringing Steve back in, after his cast was put on.

“Steve?” Ghost said, as he looked at the cast. ” They fixed your leg, you have a cast on it.”

“Uh-huh…” Steve said, his eyes still closed.

“Did it hurt?”

“No, just felt funny.”

“I wish you didn’t get all hurt.”

“Yeah, me too. Did anyone say when I can go home?”

“Somebody said tomorrow,” Ghost told him.

“Oh, good…I don’t like being in here. It reminds me of the last time…when I wrecked my T-Bird.”

“Do you miss it?” Ghost asked.

“Yeah, that was the best car I ever had.”

Just then, Kinsey and Terry came into the room. They were smiling, trying to look cheerful, but their eyes looked worried.

“Hey, Steve, you’re awake. How’s it going?” Terry asked.

“Hey, Terry…they fixed me up. Probably going home tomorrow.”

“That’s good news,” Kinsey said. “One of us will come pick y’all up. The roads are all clear now, and most of the snow is melted off.” He looked at Ghost. “How’re you coming along? Throat feel better, yet?”

“I feel a little better, Kinsey, and I’m gonna stay here tonight.”

They visited for awhile, then rose, to leave. “We’re going to go check on your house…see if the heat is back on. If not, I’ll call the propane company,” Kinsey said.

It was getting on toward night. They’d watched some TV shows, and the nurses came in every so often. Ghost was leaned back on the bed, with Steve, and fell asleep there. The next time the nurse came in, she just smiled. She wasn’t going to disturb them to make Ghost get over on the couch.

The next morning they were both brought a tray of food. Ghost poked around his tray, seeing what all was there. “Look, Steve…look at all of this.”

“Yeah, hospital food,” Steve said, making a face.

“What’cha mean, Steve…it looks good.” He dug in.

“It’s not supposed to taste good,” Steve said.

“It tastes good to me,” Ghost said.

“Ya know what, Ghost? I’m so hungry that it does taste pretty good,” Steve said, after taking a bite.

Ghost nodded, and they both ate everything on their breakfast trays.

The doctor came in, then, to give a rundown of Steve’s exam and treatment, and he brought crutches for Steve to use. “You ever use any of these, before?” he asked. “It takes a little practice…get up and try it.”

Steve tried to swing himself around to get off the bed, but the cast was very awkward. The doctor, and a nurse, helped him stand, using the crutches.

“This is harder than it looks,” Steve said. “I feel stupid having to use these.”

“Well, feel stupid all you want, you’re lucky you’re alive, from what I heard,” the doctor said.

Steve looked up, “Yeah, thanks to Ghost,” he smiled.

“Well, you practice a bit, then we’ll send you home,” the doctor said, and he gave Steve a prescription to get filled.

Kinsey arrived just then, to take them home. “Hey, you two…y’all are looking a lot better today. Ready to get out of here?”

“Yeah, we’re ready,” Ghost said. “Steve practiced his crutches, and he has a cast on his leg, and he has to keep it on for a long time, right Steve?”

“Yeah, for six weeks…then I get checked out again.”

Kinsey and Ghost helped Steve get ready to leave. “It’s weird trying to walk with these things,” Steve said.

This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative liscense is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, muscians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblence.

warning warning warning warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.